la mothe



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. J. LA MOTHE.

METALLIC BEDSTEAD AND LOUNGE.

7 No. 264,711. Patented Sept. 19, 1882.

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(No Model.) I 2Sheets-Sheet 2. B. J. LA MOTHE.

METALLIG BBDSTEAD AND LOUNGE.

No. 264,711. I Patentd Sept. 19, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT Darren.

BERNARD J. LA MOTHE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METALLIC BEDSTEAD AND LOUNGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,711, datedSeptember 19, 1882.

Application filed May 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERNARD J. LA MoTnE, ofthe city and State of New York, have invented an Improvementin MetallicBedsteads and Lounges, of which the following is aspecitication.

This improi'ement relates to the elastic metallic bottom upon which themattress or paddingis supported; also, to the metallic frame forsupporting the elastic bottom, the same being provided with joints, sothat the bed or lounge can be folded up against a wall, so as to occupybut little space during the day, and to be easily unfolded at night foruse.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view with the angle-joint pieces insection. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 3represents the bedstead as folded up against a wall.

The bed-bottom is provided with a frame of tubes, united at the angles,the side tubes, ac, and end tubes, b I), being held together permanentlyby angle clips or balls 0, of iron or other metal,cast around such endsof the tubes.

The legs at and c, that support the frame a b, are each made with aknee-formed'joint-piece, z, in the form of a strap, that extendslaterally and up at the sides of the tubes to a, where a joint pin orbolt passes through such hingepieces and through the tube. By thisconstruction the legs are directly beneath the tubes to a to support theweight when the bedstead is unfolded for use; but the legs fold into aposition parallel to the frame-tubes a, as seen in Fig. 3, and I preferto make thelegs c with double feet cf, so that the same will support theframe a b and bed-bottom when folded up vertically, as seen in Fig. 3.

The foot-guardfis made of a bent metallic tube, with the ends slippedinto holes in the angle-pieces c and into holes in the end rails, b, soas to be firmly secured in place. This foot-guard is preferably maderemovable for facilitating transportation.

The head-guard is made of the tubes h h, inserted at their lower endsinto the anglepieces 0, and united by the cross-tubes L m, andstrengthened by the pillow-guard 1), that pass in a curved line from thehead-guard down and into holes in the side rails.

The tubes It may be made with stop-hinges at r, so that the top part ofthe head-guard may be folded forwardly when the bedstead is turned up,as seen in Figf-S.

The elastic bed-bottom is made of parallel longitudinal wires 5* s, atthe ends of which there are coils or short helices 2 2, threaded upontransverse rods 25 t, which receive support from the books at at therespective ends, passing through the end tubes,bb. The hooks 'v areprovided with nuts 3, by which tension can be applied for straining thebed-bottom. The hooks u may also have nuts, but usually they will beriveted up.

In order to keep the longitudinal wires 8 8 parallel, and to distributethe strain, I employ the transverse wires or stretchers q, placed atabout one foot apart and connected to the longitudinal wires in anydesired manner. I prefer to bend the longitudinal wires with U- shapedcrimps atthe proper distances apart, and lay into such criinps thetransverse wires, and close the said crimps around the transverse wires,as shown. This secures the transverse wires, and at the same time theeyes that are formed are slightly elastic and increase the elasticity ofthe bed-bottom.

I provide a secondary frame, composed of the bow-shaped rod or smalltube 5, pivoted at its ends 6 to the tubes at, and having crosswires 7and diagonal wires 8. This secondary frame usually lies fiat upon thebed-bottom beneath the mattress and pillows; but when it is desired toraise the head of the person reclining on the bed, the said secondaryframe may be drawn up into an inclined position, as seen in Fig. 2, acord or chain, 10, from the same passing over the head of the bed, beingused for this purpose, and the end thereof is fastened to a cleat orbook at 20. This secondary frame can be removed when not needed for useor replaced at will.

The head and foot guards and legs may be dispensed with in cases wherethe frame and spring-bottom are employed as a bed-bottom or mattressupon an ordinary bedstead.

The frame a b and angle-pieces may be of strong wood instead of metal,especially in cases where the spring-bottom is used as a mattress. Thisspring-bottom is adapted to lounges as well as beds. It is very cleanly,as there are no places in which vermin are likely to lodge or dust toaccumulate, and the cost of manufacture is but little.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a frame, ab, of anelastic bottom made of longitudinal wires coiled at their ends,transverse rods passing through such coils, the hooks u and 'U, and thenuts 3 to place the longitudinal Wires under tension, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, in a bed-bottom, of the longitudinal and transverseWires, the longitudinal Wires being crimped for receiving the transversewires and the transverse rods and supporting-hooks, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with the bed-bottom, of wires and the tubular frameab, the legs dand e, and the metallic joint-pieces 1', connecting 20 thelegs to the tubes a, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the bed-bottom of wires and the frame of tubes atb, the secondary frame, 5 7 8,1)ivoted at 6, and the cord or chain 2 510 for elevating the secondary frame, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 8th day of May, A. D. 1882.

B. J. LA MOTHE.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, WILLIAM G. Mo'r'r.

